Wheel gauge for vehicles



March 23, 1948. B. CASTI GLIA 2,438,358

WHEEL GAUGE FOR VEHICLES 4 SheetsSheet 1 Filed April 21, 1943 a 4 \9 35 5 3| I a H 552 52 3 55. 8 I mm mm 1-. I H C 3 8 1a l7 z an 1 as M 9 5 x R 5 as a? I L I QIYAGIS cA T f fiA.

Paul Arm ATTORNEY.

March 23, 1948. B. CASTIGLIA WHEEL GAUGE FOB. VEHICLES Filed April 21, 1943 4 Sheets-Sheet 12 INVENTOR. BIAGIS CASTGLIA Paul ATM March 23, 1948. B. CASTlGLlA WHEEL GAUGE FOR VEHICLES I 4 Sheeis-Sheet 3 Filed April 21, 1945 INVENTOR.. v BIAGIS' CASTIGLIA Paul ATM.

A TTORNE Y.

March 23, 1948. B. CASTlGLlA 2,438,358

WHEEL GAUGE FOR VEHICLES Filed April 21, 1943 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 HGIO IN VEN TOR.

BIAGIS CASTIGLIAQ By Paul ATM ATTORNEY.

Patented Mar. 23, 1948 WHEEL GAUGE FOR VEHICLES Blagis Castiglia, New York, N. Y., assignor to Wheel Aligning Necessities, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application April 21, 1943, Serial No. 483,898

6 Claims. (01. 33-20312) My invention relates to a gauge for aligning and determining the characteristics of vehicle wheels and particularly for determining the camber, caster, king pin inclination, wheel centers, and parallel tracking, and has among its purposes and objects to provide:

A device which conveniently and accurately shows the characteristics of the wheels of the vehicle so that the inaccuracies may be corrected to increase the life of the tires, the balance and road performance of the vehicle.

A device to facilitate the aligning of vehicle wheels.

A caster and camber gauge combined with a wheel aligning gauge.

A quick, easy way of correcting wheel aligning inaccuracies.

An instrument quickly adjustable to indicate the condition of vehicle wheels.

I accomplish these and other objects by the construction herein set forth and shown in the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof in which:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatical plan view.

Fig. 2 is an elevation and section of one end of my gauge.

Fig. 3 is a section of the spindle attachment at 33, Fig. 4.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevation of the spindle attachment.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan view of the spindle attachment showing the micrometer camber gauge.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary plan view of one part of the wheel center gauge.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary elevation of one of the wheel center gauges. v

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the base and frame with turntables and caster recorders with the spindle attachments and wheels, not shown.

Fig. 9 is an elevation of one of the caster record holders showing one of the caster record sheets and a part of one of the supporting frames.

Fig. 10 is a plan view of a modification of the spindle attachment.

Fig. 11 is asection at lll I,Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary detail of a modification.

Fig. 13 is a section at I 3-l 3, Fig. 10.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings and in the specifications to follow.

I am aware that my gauge may be a combination of several devices for determining several separate and seemingly independent indications dependent and must all be related to produce a unity of function and result. For instance, the caster, the camber, the king pin inclination, and the wheel centers or parallel tracking of the wheels are all combined to give a passenger automobile the excellence of road performance which cannot be accomplished without their accurate and intended cooperation.

I am aware that there are camber gauges; that there are caster gauges and gauges that independently may be combined, and because they are not dependently combined, they are subject to error, and this error is eliminated by the use of my invention which relates and composes the otherwise separated characteristics of the vehicle wheel and its suspension to the chassis of the vehicle.

The degrees the two wheel spindles travel in turning a corner are not identical and the caster record, combined with the wheel center determination as well as the angle each spindle is moved, are seen at one inspection; the two charts show all of these characteristics at once and in a single operation. This illustration is typical and is pointed out to show the dependence of the parts to each other as contrasted with several separated gauges which are not physically connected to each other. This is not a mere aggregation of independent gauges each capable of producing its independent function; the simultaneous indications of the several gauges produce a new functional relationship and do more than the combining of the indications of several separated gauges.

In this disclosure, the drawing and the detailed description, it is my purpose to illustrate a preferred embodiment of my invention rather than to limit its scope. It is not intended that all possible modifications of this disclosure are set forth, and to those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains, numerous modifications may suggest themselves after a study of this detailed disclosure.

The preciseness of the details is intended to make the construction better understood and thus avoid confusion which might result from a more abstract and generalized description, or a specification made confusing by pointing out numerous modifications which one skilled in the art of wheel aligning may readily see.

Referring to the drawings, I have shown'the principal parts as comprising the spindle attachments S, the stationary adjustable frame F, the turn tables T, and the record holders R, and rim-- and records. These indications, however, are ter gauges C.

The spindle attachments S are provided with the micrometer camber gauges M and scriber indicators I. The cooperation ,of the parts will be better understood after a study of the more detailed description.

The larger detailed views of the drawings show 7 one of a pair, some of which are identical and are disposed at either side of the'vehiclewhile others are identical "except that one 'is right hand an'd the other left ha .the record sheets,'for in: stance, are right-a left while the record holder may *e'rve at either. side.

. "spindle attachments S comprise the centeringland isecuring members :each preferably having -the t'hub facing piece I having thelevl supporting arm 2; one end of which is secured't'o or formed integral with the piece 1 and ,therfree end is provided with the swing joint 3 carrying the pivot pin 4 on which the level holder -5 i's swingingly secured. The level holder is prozvided with the sensitive level-t and-at its free thus :scribing on the record the m ;:end tswingingly supports-the :finger:peinter :1'

which I combines'withithe 1 micrometer :lndicatord! :of the micrometer drum 9*,to indicate therdegrees -o'f. camber of the'wheel.

iThe' level holder 5=:is providedwithithe rider lll at itmfreezendzwhichrestson the-{cones H secured to the micrometer drum :9 fiwhich-thus=raises and I lowerstheffree end ofthe 'levelrholder-as. the "m1- -crometer drum and cone is moved axially on the caster'indicator sleeve :12 'which isjprovided "with-the threads 5 l t'whi'ch "engagecthe threaded hflb l-t "of themicrometerdrum.

' "The :caster .indicatorssle'eve 12 risisecuredzto the spindle centering 'member [:5 ibytthe zfl'ange itli which is provided "atrits*innericenter withihe center I! which engages the center in therspindle "I 8 -o'f "the i steering knuc'kle 1 9. 'FIhe spindle c'enteri'ng nember lfi isspreferably provided with'ithe -thu'mb screws r 20 ra'di'ally :di'sposed :so 'that-thelr inner ends may engage the spindle [8 for eth-e -spindle' nut .ZI, therebyzi'adjustablysecuring rand -centering the -caster :in'dicat'or :s'leeVe -42 '-to and in re'IatiOn to thespin'dIe il8.

- The centering memberiis preferably :provide'd with the spring. seats' -QZ which receive thesprings --23 -the=0ther 'en'ds rof whichengage the espring seats z in the facingv piece'l. The:thumb:screws 2 0 prferab'ly pass freely cthrough" the notches :2-5 -in f the :overlappingi'fiange :25 :df tithe ifacing'jpiece I ,"thus permitting relight lfreeolom :of :fIilOlliQIlfjhG t'w'een ithe facing :piec 1 and? its 'adjacentacente'rin'g member '15. Both "pieces t'areracclirately machined and surfaced all over soithahthetfin- -lshedendsurface of the wheellhub 2811s :held firmly against i'the' 'fa'cingi piece ".rby'the :springs r23 -andalso serve asxa guidetin: a'dj'usting'ihe-zaxial alignment of the caster indicatori sleeve 42 .when it is centered on the spindle; 'astany mariatron'fin :t ."dista'hce:ibetweenlthe:adjacehttface's :of the facing piece I i and the zcente'ring meni'bier .45 may be easily detec'ted 'wl'iileaa'djustlng arrdzsecuring the latter to the spindle.

' The micrometer idrum, when :revolved on Zthe threadedsleeve I2, :moves'faxiall-yiinaaither direction when movediawayffrom ithe"flywheel,itherientl 1 0f the -lev'el 'holder, whichirestsa on ithe :E'cone Ii *i'elation between theaxis 'ofithefslee've riZIandEthe horizontal orlbetween thej face :of the-hiib128rarrd awertic'al plane. 'The degrees of the' 'camber.-rof the wheel are" thus accurately determinetdz byxra 13 the vehicle, as shown --inibroken 5:35 36 being at the right whenlookingat'the record,

The caster of the wheel, the forward or back 7 angle of the steering knuckle, the angle of the wheel when turned, the wheel centers, tracking, and also the inclination of the king pin are determined by referring to the record 27.

The indicatorsleeveis preferably provided with thespring actuated marker holder in which is held the marker H which may be a pen or penall held in axial alignment with the spindle l8 -by theesleeve l2 in which the marker holder is s'lidably mounted to move axially by the spring .32 iivhi'ch '"forcescthe marker against the record 21, ovement of the-wheel as -it is-turned.

Whenthe marker of each'of the front wheels is at mid position, such as when the Vehicle is beingsteered straight ahead or baclgboth right and left side markers gshould be on :li-nesr-SB of-the records. 7

Whenihefrontwheels 29 andZiS-areturnedat theextremesof travel when turning the ve- -.hicle, 'the marker should beon or near one end -of -:the centerrlines 3 5 -and:on-the side .29, for

instance, the marker'will be near the rrear edge -.of :the record *whi le -the -markeron the other sldevnear the wheel 39 will :be toward the front edgeofthe record on that particulargside of grammatic -view, Fig-=1.

yThe right'anjdwleft records, 21 andtl, thus are right and left with regard to the starting :point' 36. "Themear edge '35." andstarting point 21-. and'atitheleft'whenlooking atthe record 37.

The travel of the marker in degrees-indicating 'theiangle of'the'spindle is'shown-onthe record and the wheel angle :at the inside of the turn' ods greater'thanthe wheelangle atthe outside of the "turn, *thus the line :33 scribed by the marker beginsagreater number of degrees from the center line 33 than atthe end 38 oftthe'mark or line 38; 'forinstancefthe end All maybe 20 degrees and the beginning isi'may .be' 24 degrees from the center line 33. V

Inilicia- M on the top or bottomofithe record, may show accurately the travel in. degrees-ofthe spindle and Wheel in turning. 'Indi'cia tfiat-ithe front edge 43 of the recordmayshow theposi- *tlve or negative caster accurately in degrees in which; the center line 34 is zero, indicating, -if the scribed line isalong this center line, that *there is --no caster and also indicating, i'ff-the line scribed by the marker ends above'the cen-.

ter =line '34, that a positive caster exists and also the amount of the positivecaster. '-'Likewise,-if j'theline ends below the centerline-34,-the'-record "ShOYIsfthEttnBgdtiVe caster exists as-well asthe .amount accurately'in degrees. The caster angle tjfitheiaxis fi Llkingpin "45, on which ;the *wheel swings ,is vnot to be confused" by e the "'kingpin'in- .clination .in which the axis ,ofthe .kingpin"is at an angle to the perpendicular at .thegright or left of the .center of .the vehicle while-the casterrangle is the angle from the .perpendicular in relation to the front or back of the vehicle It is to be noted-that the record holder is curved atra radius from theaxis-of rthe kingpin. andthe 57-0 .marker :3! -is substantially at the same height from the floor as-thecenter .l! of thespindle. The-record holderis-inclined parallel to the king- ;pinlnclination. 5

:If :the :record holder were perpendicular, .the

ferring to the micrometer indicato=r 8 awhi'chids 3Z5'dine.scribedlbll.thermarker I0111d ,be -cu-rvedo;r

the center lines in the diae a part of an ellipse. Thus, if the kingpin inclination is not parallel to record, the record may be adjusted by tilting the record holder R on the pin 46 and the pointer 41 secured to said record holder will give an accurate reading of the kingpin inclination as indicated by the calibrations and indicia 48 preferably disposed on the supports 49 for the record holder R.

Secured to the back of each record holder, I have provided the center gauges 0, each having a measuring tape 50 which, in most respects, may be similar to any spring retracted measuring tape such as commonly used for many other purposes. The tape 50 is retracted into the housing which is secured to the record holder and so position-ed as to read the distance between the edge 52 of the opening 53 to the center point 54 at the end of the tape. The center point may be inserted into the .center of the wheel or to any other point having a like counterpart on the opposite side of the vehicle so that the vehicle may beset accurately on the turntables T which are 50 disposed and adjusted as to freely rotate on the axis 44 of the kingpin. 7

The turntables T each may be identical in construction and provided with the center pin 55 securing the turntable to the base frame 55, the roller races 5! of which coact with the roller races 58 of the revolving plate 59 toreceive the rollers 60 to reduce friction and to permit the free turning movement of the Wheels of the vehicle when centered on the turntable and revolving plate which is facilitated by the pair of adjustable guides 6| so disposed as to suit the width of the tire of the vehicle wheel. Adjustment may be made by the notched ears 62 which receive the bolt 63 preferably suited to engage any of the plurality of tapped holes 64 in the plates 59.

The base frame 56 is preferably provided with diametrically disposed guide arms 65 which are grooved on their under surface to receive either of the record holder bases 66 or the center spreader 61, either of which is slidably and adjustably secured in said arms 65 by the bolts 68 and slots 69 and I0. Thus, the turntables T may be adjusted in relation to each other to suit the wheel gauge of the vehicle or the wheels may be centered or disposed on the turntable to suit the kingpin inclination or the size of the tires of the vehicle wheels. The record holders may be moved away from or toward the wheels.

The record holder supports 49 are preferably adjustably secured to the bases 66 by the risers II which are slotted I2 to receive the bolts 13 which are provided with the wing nuts I4, thereby permitting the record holder to be raised or lowered as desired.

While I have shown a chart or record and its holder as a means of indicating the caster angle, as well as other information pertaining to the kingpin and spindle, the caster may also be determined by the micrometer gauge and level and in Fig. 12, I have shown a fragmentary view in which the marker which also serves as an indicator, is eliminated. The micrometer means of indicating by means of a level is substituted for the record.

The operation of a level and spindle attachment for determining the caster is in many respects similar to determining the caster angle on the record. The wheels and spindles are turned to one extreme of travel at which position the level is set by revolving the micrometer drum on its threaded center or sleeve until level. The

position on the indicia of the drum is noted; the wheels and spindles are then turned a like number of degrees on th other side of the center position and the level again adjusted and indicia on the micrometer drum will, when so calibrated, give the caster angle. The caster angle is determined by noting the difference between the first and second reading of the micrometer drum.

The lack of caster may also be determined by the fact that there is no change in the two readings and the direction of movement of the micrometer drum designates a positive caster or a negative caster.

The modification of the spindle attachment shown in Figs. 10, 11, and 13, operates in much the same manner as the construction shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5. The principal difference is in the adjustment of the attachment to align the parts to the spindle and wheel hub. The internal tapered surface of the micrometer drum also is substituted for the conical surface in adjusting the level for either camber or caster angle determination.

In Figs. 10, 11, and 13 of the drawings, the marker 3| or indicator I is held in the marker holder 30 which is forced out of the sleeve I I2 in which it is slidable axially by the spring 32.

The sleeve II 2 is provided with the enlarged floating cupped end H6, the end surface H9 of which is pressed firmly against the faced end 28 of the wheel hub. The face I I9 is preferably provided with relieved segments I25 to insure a better seat and to catch particles of dirt when oscillated. The face I I9 of the cupped end H0 is forced against the end 28 of the hub by the springs I23 one end of which rests in the spring seats I22 of the cupped end II 6 and the other ends in the spring seats I24 of the member II5 which is slidably mounted on the exterior of the cupped end H6 and provided with the thumb screws I20 which pass through the slots I25 in the cupped end and engage the spindle nut 2I of the spindle I8, thereby firmly holding the member I I5 on the spindle and permitting the springs I23 to force the cupped end firmly against the end of the hub of the wheel.

The sleeve H2 is provided with the threads II3 which receive the threaded hub I I4 of the micrometer drum I09, which is provided with the indicia I08 which may be calibrated to show degrees of angularity of the level I08 which is held in the swingingly mounted level holder I05 by the cgnter pointed adjusting screws I04 of the bracket The free end of the level holder is provided with the yieldingly mounted pointer I0I'and the rider IIO which rests against the conical surface III within the micrometer drum I09. The rider I I0 is forced to contact the tapered surface within the drum by the spring I I1.

As the micrometer drum is revolved on the threaded sleeve, the free end of the level holder is raised or lowered and the indicia, on the surface of the drum is calibrated to give the desired reading in degrees to show the camber or caster or both camber and caster, as well as the setting of the marker in relation to the record.

In Fig. 12, the sleeve 2 I2 is similar to the sleeve I2 or II2 except that the marker and its holder are not provided. The end 2 I3 is closed near the bracket I02.

Having thus described the preferred embodiment of my invention as illustrated in the drawings, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. avehiclew eel ca se-ha ng he l ceneri mea s ier t eron wheels the ehic e and tu n abl and s c ol i e-meanser ie conn ed to each o her su o tin thewheel and pe mi tin e e ls to be u ened a vrhen steerin v t e e c e a re o d su perti e m ns securedtosaid turntable supporting means and-a m k r: s c ed wand swin in i hhe w eel said record supporting means being curved cylindrically to conform to the arcsweptwhy the end of said" marker, whereby the marker contactsthe face of the record on said record holding; means.

2. In a vehicle wheel gauge, for determin n wheel mounting characteristics; having; a turntable: on which thewheel to be aligned may he swung as in steerinfithevehicle; meansmotata y sup tin the t ta e; a r o ho d n means secured tov said turntable supporting means in fixed relation thereto, and means swungwith the wheel contacting the'face of, the record on said record holding meansand. indicating thereonthe swinging movement of the-wheel; the face of said record holding means being-.zcylindrically curved to substantially conformto the path traveled by" said indicating means and also to indicate any ve'rticaltravel of saidt indicatingmeans; j i

3. In av vehicle wheeigauge; for determining wheel mounting characteristics; having; a turn table on which the wheelto bealigned may be swungi as in steering the vehicle, meansrotatably supporting the turntable, a; record heidi-ng means secured to said turntable supporting means in fixed relation; thereto, and means swung with the wheel-contacting the face of the record on said record holding means andindicating thereon the swinging; movement of the wheel, the: face of said record holding" means being cylindrically' curved to substantially conform to the pathtraveled by said indicating means: and also to indicateany' vertical travel of said indicating-means, adjust.-

ing means for said record holding means to ade just the face of said record holding means to bring it into parallelism with the inclination of th kingpin on which said-wheel swings:

Q; In a vehicle wheel gauge having marker ing afrecordwith its face held't'o parallelismzwithl the. axis onv which the wheel isswung andl said record having lines and indicia representing caster andrthe relative degree of both-positive,

and negative caster, the caster being determined by swinging the Wheel and said markerwmea ns with the latter contacting said record. a

5. In a. vehicle wheel gauge having marker meanssecured tor thespindle of the wheel and. swung with the wheel, .record holding means hav-l ing a record'with its faceheld to parallelism with the axle'on which-the wheelis swung and having lines and indicia whereby the center positionand the angle of travel of thewheel inieither direc v tion. from. the .center position is indicated/said marker means contacting the face of said-record. 6. In a vehicle wheel "gauge" having marker means secured to thespindlezof the wheel and swung, with the wheel,;recordholdingmeans having a record with: its face. held toward, the: axis on which thewheelis swungand having lines and indiciaon a record held by said record holding means, said record holding means and said rec- 0rd being curved to conform with the arc of travel of theend of the marker, adjustable supporting means for the record holding means to position said record holding means and also hold saidtreca 0rd holding means in-parallelism. with the axis on which the wheelie swung wherebyrthe king;- pin inclination may be determined.

I Bracers cAsTIGnIA, f 7

REFERENCES QITED The. following references are of record in file of this patent: 1

UNITED. STATES PATENTS a Number Name Date 1,927,438 Christensen et a1. Sept,19,, 1933. 2,133,827 .Miller" Oct; 18, 1938 v to 2,160,226 7 Phillips f May 3,0, 11959 

